3 players the Cleveland Indians should get from the Mets in trade for Francisco Lindor.
The Cleveland Indians are still holding on to their Francisco Lindor trade card and with baseball in the middle of its virtual Winter Meetings, the eyes of the baseball world are waiting on the Tribe to pull the trigger.
It’s been speculated that Lindor isn’t crazy about playing in the Big Apple, alas, the former Gold Glove winner won’t have a say in where he plays until after 2020.
You’ve got to be wondering what Lindor’s gameplan is heading into the offseason. If the Tribe trades him, it makes sense for him to sign an extension with his new club because next season, the shortstop market gets flooded with some upper-echelon talent, including name such as Corey Seager and Trevor Story.
Baseball teams have made their losses due to the pandemic well known, with the Trie calming to have lost “tens of millions” of dollars. While a vaccine for COVID-19 is on the way, the truth is we still don’t know what stadium crowd sizes will look like in 2021.
As for the Indians, if they trade Lindor, their Opening Day payroll is projected to be around $45 million, which would be a bottom five payroll. With its starting pitching, the Indians would still be expected to contend, which is amazing.
So, if the Mets are the eventual landing spot fo Lindor, the Tribe must get these three players in return. Another potential team to watch, is Toronto, which is run by former members of the Tribe brass. If the Tribe trades with the Blue Jays, the front office must get these five players in return.
1. Andres Gimenez, SS/2B
The Indians and Mets are no strangers to Francisco Lindor trade rumors. Previously speculation had Amed Rosario heading to the Tribe, but if Cleveland is going to flip Lindor for a shortstop, they’ve got to come away with Gimenez, who’s the better prospect.
If the Mets acquire Lindor, it’s assumed the franchise will do whatever it takes to extend the four-time All-Star. New owner Steve Cohen is loaded and didn’t take on the losses other owners faced.
Gimenez, 22, got his first taste of the big leagues in 2020, playing in 49 games. He hit .263 (.732 OPS) and posted a 1.0 WAR.
He only hit three homers, but he does have nice gap power and the hope is that as he gets older, more home runs will be in his future.
Adding Gimenez would afford the Tribe the ability to break in their third ranked prospect, Tyler Freeman, as a second baseman.
2. Brandon Nimmo, OF
The Tribe’s outfield situation is no closer to being resolved, but by adding Brandon Nimmo, the Tribe would have an answer at the position for at least a couple seasons.
Nimmo was a highly thought of prospect, but he’s battled injuries throughout his career.
In 2017, he suffers a strained hamstring during the World Baseball Classic. This setback left him off the Mets Opening Day roster. He didn’t finish the season, either, as he suffered a collapsed lung. In 2019, he missed time with a bulging disk,
He played a career high 140 games in 2018, hitting .263 (.886 OPS) with 17 home runs. In 2020, he played in 55 games and hit .280 (.888 OPS) with eight homers.
Perhaps his injured past is a reason the Mets would let him go, and if that’s the case, the Tribe should be willing to take a flier. His ability to get on base and hit for power is evident, but he’s got to be able to stay on the field.
He’s played every outfield position in the big leagues and would become the surest lock in the pasture on the corner of Carnegie and Ontario if acquired. Oscar Mercado will get a chance to show his sophomore slump in 2020 was just that, while Daniel Johnson is expected to get more of a look as well.
There’s more speculation about Franmil Reyes to take more fly balls in spring training, but I’d expect that experiment to end the same way it did last season–with Reyes serving as the designated hitter on an exclusive basis.
3. Ryley Gilliam, RHP
The Indians have a void to fill with the team parting ways with Brad Hand after the season. Emmanuel Clase, a hard throwing right-hander acquired in the trade for Corey Kluber will be back from his PED suspension and is expected to pick up a lot of innings.
That said, the Indians conceded defeat on Adam Cimber, making the side-armer a free agent. Cimber was acquired with Hand in the 2018 trade that sent top catching prospect Francisco Mejia to the Padres.
So, why Gilliam, the Mets 25nd ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline?
Mostly, he’s close to being ready for big-league action. He breezed through the minors after being drafted out of Clemosn in the fifth round of the 2018. He finished 2019 pitching at Triple-A. He’ll probably have to open the season with the Clippers, if acquired, but he may not be there long.
Giliam possess two plus pitches in a fastball and a curve. His 5-foot-10 frame is able to crank out heat in the mid-90s. His curve is described as having “big shape” and “hard downward action.” He’s averaged 13.98 strikeouts per nine inning during his short minor-league career.
The Indians need back-end help and Gilliam may be able to provide it as early as this season.
Adding him in potential Lindor deal is a no brainer for a front office that has excelled in developing pitchers of late.